Pump actuating mechanism for rail lubricators



Dec. 3, 1940. s. E. BATES ET AL PUMP ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR RAILLUBRICATORS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 9Q s n r. Q N ek WWW/f I W vi, .1 a v F@ ff v I 4 Q n 0 io ,m m m. Kw wmyww NM MN \m u MwN A w p wmfi n a FiledFeb. 21, 1958 s. E. BATES ET AL PUMP ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR RAILLUBRICATORS Dec. 3, 1940.

Filed Feb. 21, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W w m. M; a llhl I \N/ m5... m m fI o I Mm Dec. 3, 1940. 5 E BATES ETAL 2,223,714

PUMP ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR RAIL LUBRICATORS Filed Feb. 21, 1938 5Sheets-Sheet 3 s" 2 s Th z i ii #009725;

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 5. E. BATES ET AL PUMP ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR RAILLUBRICATORS Filed Feb. 21, 1938 V Dec 3, 1940.

Imfen 0T5 Jib Iggy fa a and T500205 5506102022 F 172272012: @Jrmz'erUNITED STATE Patented Dec. 3, 1940 ware Application Februarylfil, 1938,SerialNo; 7 V

Claims. (oris sy :*This invention relates to certain new and use:fulimpro'vements in pump actuating mechanism for-rail and wheel flangelubricators and more particularly'to pump actuatingmechanism ineluding areciprocating plunger supported on a rail at one sidethereof and adaptedto be operated byv contact with passing car wheels.

. -Wheelengaging plungers in the form of recipe rocating studs havebeenused heretoforein rail and wheel flange lubricators as valve members andas direct acting lubricant pumps, but they have been regarded as whollyunsuitable for imparting operating movement to lubricant pump-s locatedat substantial. distances from. the rail. The sudden impact, when a carwheel strikes such plunger and the consequent highvelocity movementimparted toit and the shaft connections-from Iav position vofrestimposes severe strains on the" pump mechanism and theoperatingconnections. It has been customary, heretofore; to operate suchpump mechanism by means-0f relatively long wheel engaging leversarranged-along one side of the rail or by other speed reducing leverconnections interposed between a wheel engaging element and the pump;

An objector the present invention is to provide,

' in a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus,

compact and relatively inexpensive pump actuating' mechanism including awheel engaging plunger-for imparting-movement 1 to a pump shaft-,-themechanism being such as to prevent unduestrains being imposed-on thepump or other operative connections by the suddenim- ,pact-"orstartingmovementof the plunger when itis struck-by a car wheel.

"*According'to the invention, the pump operat? ing" mechanism includes"a; shaft extending "from the location of the pump-to the rail and isconhected "to aplunger adapted to be depressed by engagement with awheel passing along 'arail. The plunger isso constructed and connectedto the shaft as to avoid the strains ordinarily iinposed on a shaft'andpum'p structure when a wheeliactuating plunger is connected'directly tothe shaft] In oneembodimentpf the invention, thesl' 'aft isoperated' byniea'nsof spring pressure duringi'the return or upward .movementof theplunger. ,In another embodiment, the pump is operated during a downwardmovement "of the plunger by a resilient cushion, preferablyacornpression spring, interposed in the plunger so as to. absorb theshock incident to the impact of the wheel against the upperiend of theplunger, the

operating; force being thereby exerted on the.

shaft through thesaid compression springt cushion.

'Another more is pecific Data or the me t rs to. provide improvedratchet means for effecting operative; connection between a vertically'operated plunger member and the operating shaft of a lubricantpump,"whe'reby a relativelvishorft j movement of the'plun'g'er may befully translated into an operating movement ofthe'shaft. In=thisconnection the invention provides means; for adijusting the actuating'detent and/or the holding detent, so that. both of thesemembers-:willbe fully engaged 'with-I-the .ratchetwheel; I

Other objects and advantages. of the invention will be readily.apparent-from thefollowingqdee tail. descriptions of the two embodimentsillustrated inthedrawingsz I l I 1 Inthe'drawingsz r 1 Fig. 1 is a planview'of. a rail and'wheel flange lubricatingapparatus provided with apump actuating mechanism made in accordance with this invention;

Fig.2 is a" side view,' on-a larger scale than-Fig. I

1, illustrating the manne'r in which the pu shaft'actuatin'g mechanismis 'adjustably secured;

on the rail;

Fig. 3 is'a vertical sectional view taken through I thelubricantreservoirand part of.the'-pump ac:-

tuating mechanism; .1 i

Fig. -4 is a view: in perspective of a "ratchet mechanismillustratedinFigB; i

Fig. 5. is a sectional view taken'through' the rail substantially on1ine15--5' of Fig. 1 and-lookingin the direction indicated bythe arrow:

Fig.6 isan-L end view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5 with-the'endcover of the caSing-removed and. with a portion of the cover engagingflangebroken away.

. Fig. 7. is a fragmentary sectional view'taken "on line 1-. -1 of Fig.16 to illustrate the eccentric'bolt for. varying: the position of: theactuating :detent. :Fig; 8. is a view similaktd'F'ig. '3 butillustrating a .reciprocatingcpu-inp.Sand "a -wheel actuated 1 mechanism.whichis particularly suitable for such formof pump...iv i;

- 'Fig. -9 isa sectional eview on or with partof the clamp omitted. rFig. 10; is. a cross section taken through the lubricant, distributor,the', rail,rand theiwheel a'c-- tuated plunger mechanism,; the,saidsection being i is a sectionalv-plan vview takenon-ilineinclusive Bf 30mechanism -employed' the shaft operating secured to the rail. The saiddistributors may be 7 of any suitable construction adapted to dischargelubricant at one side of a rail head so that the lubricant will bespread along the side face of the rail head and/or picked up by theflanges of car wheels passing along the rail.

Inasmuch as the distributing members and the reservoir structure isshown herein merely to illustrate a complete operative structure and donot in themselves constitute a material part of the present inventionthese members of the lubricating apparatus will not be described indetail. Any further detail of operation may be had by reference to theBates and Overmier Patent No. 2,055,140 dated September 22, 1936.

The pump I2 is operated by means of sprocket and. chain. connections ISwith a flexible. shaft designated as a whole by. the reference numeral15.. The said shaft 16 is made flexible so that it will automaticallyadjust itself to compensate for movements of the rail relative to thepump, :during the passing of traffic over the rail. The end section I]of the flexible shaft extends into a casing L8 which encloses mechanism,including a wheel actuated plunger I9, for imparting operating movementsto the shaft.

. The mechanism casing I8 is preferably adjustablyysecured to asupporting bar 20 at the outer sideof the rail by means of angularbrackets 2I 2I (Fig. 2) there being slots 2I in the angle brackets forthe fastening bolts 22; the supporting bar-2E1 1's adjustably supportednear its ends on clam-p brackets 23-43 and is supported in? term-ediateits ends by adjusting screws 23 which bear on the top surface of therail base flange. The plunger I9 is preferably cylindrical .andissupported in the casing I8 in a position inclined transversely of therail (Figs. 3 .and 5).

By positioning the plunger in the inclined positio.-n, the length of theplunger may be made substantially greater than the height of the railand the upper end of the plunger may be positioned relatively close totheouter side face of the rail head for contact with the tread portionof a wheel. The diameterofthe upper portion 24 of the plungeris'preferably less than the body portion and extendsthrough' a suitablebearing 25 in the casing The shoulder 26 at the lower end of the reducedportion of the plunger serves asa stopto limit the .upward movement ofthe plunger. Ihe plunger is supported .in its normal position by meansof a coil spring 21. The upper portion of the spring extends into acylindrical pocket formed in the lower end. of the plunger and the lowerend of the spring seat on .a removable plug 28. The plunger isoperatively connected, as hereinafter described, to the end sections llof the flexible shaft, the latter being journaled in bearings 29 and 30in the removable closure head 3| and the rear wall, respectively, of thecasing I8.

mechanismfor connecting the plunger I9 with theflexible shaft comprisesa ratchet wheel ".32 fixed to the section I 1 of the shaft and anoscillating lever means mounted loosely on the shaft adjacent tosaidratchet wheel. The lever means comprises a hub portion 33 (Fig. 4)formed at one side with a projection 34 adapted to extend into ahorizontal slot 35 formed in the plunger. The upper and lower faces ofthe projection M are preferably curved so as to bear against the wallsof the slot 35 during all angular positions of the lever. At the otherside of the said hub portion 33 it is provided with two radiallyprojecting arms 36 and 37. An actuating detent 38 is pivotally supportedon a bolt 39 fixed adjustably in the outer end of the arm 36. Theactuating detent normally hangs downwardly and is provided at its lowerend with a plurality of teeth 40 adapted to engage the teeth of theratchet wheel. A spring II positioned in a spring pocket 42 on the arm31 bears against the outer face of the detent 31 so as to hold it inengagement with the ratchet wheel at all times. A holding detent 43 ispivotally supported on a bolt 64 which'screws into a lug 45 projectinginwardly from the inner wall of the casing I8. The free end of theholding detent is provided with .a plurality of teeth 46 adapted toengage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 32. The tooth end portion of theholding pawl :is held in engagement with the ratchet wheel by means of acoil spring fill positioned in a spring pocket in the lower portion ofthe casing I 8. The compression of the spring 46 may be adjusted byturning a plug 48 which serves as a "closure for the spring pocket.

In order to insure proper engagement of the detent 38 with the teeth ofthe ratchet wheel and thereby avoid any substantial lost motion at thebeginning of the downward movement of said detent, and in order. also toinsure proper engagement of the holding detent 4'3 with the teeth of theratchet wheel at the end of each operative movement of the wheel, one orboth of the detents maybe adjusted to shift the pivotal axis thereof.The means for adjusting the detent 38 comprises an eccentric portion 49formed on the pivot bolt .39. It will :be seen by inspection of Figs. 6and '7 that rotation of the pivot bolt 38 in a counterclockwisedirection moves the eccentric portion of the bolt in a direction toelevate the detent 38 relative to the ratchet wheel and that rotation ofsaid pivot bolt in the other direction lowers the detent relative to theratchet wheel. The means for adjusting the detent 43 comprise aneccentric bushing 43 fixed in an opening at the pivot end-of the detentand a set screw 43* for holding the eccentric bushing in any desiredposition of adjustment. Rotation of the bushing in the holding detent ina counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, serves to increasethe effective length of the detent. Rotation of the said bushing 43 inthe'other direction serves to shorten the efi'ective length of thedetent. In this way the detent 43 can be accurately positioned to engageone or more teeth of the ratchet wheel at the end of each partialrotation thereof.

In order to'insure thorough lubrication of the parts, the casing ispartially filled with a suitable lubricant before the closure head 3| ofthe casing is applied. A removable plug 50 in the head (Fig. 2) permitsready inspection of the lubricant and the introduction of additionalquantities thereof from time to time.

In operation, the portion of a wheel tread which overlies the outer sideface of a running rail engages the upper end of the plunger I9 so as todepress this member. During the downward movement of the plunger theratchet lever means is rocked in a-direotion to elevate'the actuatingdetent 38. As soon as the car wheel passes off the plunger thecompression spring'Zl forces the plunger .upwardly. *Duringl the upwardmovement of theplunger the pressure of spring 21, acting through theratchet mechanism, effects a partial rotation of the flexible shaft l6.This partial rotation. of the shaft imparts .a pumping movement'to. thepump l2 by. means of the chain and sprocket connection. l5. .Thelubricant withdrawn from the reservoir I0 is forced by. the pumpthrough-the conduits ,|,3?-|3 to the distributors, I l-l4, the lattermembers serving to discharge the lubricant at locations where it isbrought into contact with theinner. face of the rail head andthe.flanges of passingcar wheels.

Referring now to, the modified embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8 to 11inclusive, of the draw-J ings: ,5! designates, as a whole, a plungermechanismsecured in a casing.52,,the latter of which isxadjustablysupported on a supporting bar 20 by means of bolts53. extending throughelongated slots 54. The said supporting bar 20 is provided at its endswith adjustingscrews 20 I whereby the bar may be raised or loweredrelaillustrated inthe previous embodiment, comprising the clamp 23, aclamp jaw 13 and a connecting bolt 14.. The said plunger 5| comprises anouter cylindrical member and an inner member 56,the inner member isconnected to the outer member by means of a pin. 51 which extendsthrough an opening 58 in the inner member. .The said opening 58 issomewhat .larger thanthe pin. 51 so, that the inner and outer members ofthe plunger may move relative .to eachother when a car wheel strikes theupper end of the plunger. This relative movement is resisted by acompression spring 59 interposed between .the outer and inner members ofthe plunger.v The said spring absorbs the initial against the plungerand converts this force into resilient pressure which is transmittedthrough a. lever 6|] to the flexibleshaft 6|. The said relative movementof the plunger members is, preferably, limited by the shoulder 62whichengages the upper edge'of the inner member 56 when the spring 59 issubstantially fully compressed. A screw bolt 63 (Fig. 10) extendsthrough the casing and projects into a slot 64 in the outer member ofthe plunger to .hold the plunger against rotary movement. This bolt,serves also as a stop to limit upward movement of the plunger in thecasing. The outer end of the lever 60 extends into aslot 65 formed inthe, lower end of the outer member of the plunger. Preferably, this endof the lever is curved and extends upwardly as indicated at 60 so as topermit a relatively close arrangement of the plunger and the shaft 6|and atthe same time insurecontact of the lever at substantially thecenter of. the plunger inner member 56 during all angular positionsofthe lever. 1 The outer end of the flexible shaft 6| extends into thepump casing and is pro- .vided with a lever arm 66 which bears ontheupper end of a reciprocating pumpmember 61 mounted ina casing-Won alubricant supplyreservoir 69. A compression spring 10 surrounding aportion of the pump piston BLholds the pump in its normal up positionand thereby holdsthe' plunger 5| in its up position and in the path oftravel of a car wheel. '1

In operation, a car wheel passing along the rail engages anddepressesthe, plunger'5|. The initial impact of the wheel against the plunger isabsorbed by the compression spring 59 so as to relieve the lever 60 andthe other pump operating mechanism from they shockof said impact.Downward movement of the plunger 5| imparts a rocking movement to thelever 60 and to the shaft 6|. This movement of the-shaft rocks the leverarm 56 downwardly and forces the pump (i'lv downwardly. The downwardmovement of the pump compresses the spring. Ill and also forceslubricant past a ball valve 'll and thence through the conduits |3 tothe lubricant distributor M As soon as the car wheel passes over theplunger 5| the reaction of the compression spring 1|] returns all of theoperating parts to the positions shown in Figs. 8 to- 11, inclusive,

of the drawings so that the parts will be inreadiness for anotherpumping operation. p

The discharge means M shown in this modification may be andpreferably isof thesame general construction as illustrated in Fig. 3. It issupported on the rail by means of a vertically adjustable bar 12 andpedestal clamp members I3.

' ''While the invention is illustrated inconnection with two specificembodiments it will be obvious that various changes in specificconstructionmay be made without departure from the principles of theinvention disclosed. It should beunderstood, therefore, that theinvention is not to be limited to the structureshown and describedexcept insofar as they appear in, theappended claims. I I l v I I Weclaim: I

1. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating appa-I ratus, the combinationwith means for delivering lubricant to the rail comprising a pump andoperating connections therefor including a shaft; cfmeens for impartingmovement'to said shaft comprising a stud plunger movable inthe directionof its length and supported on the: rail at one side thereof inrelatively close relation'to the said shaft and with its upper endextending into the path of passing car wheels, whereby the plunger isdepressed by engagement with said wheels, lever means on said shaftincluding a relatively short arm for engaging the plunger, wherebymovement of the plunger in one direction imparts a partial rotation tosaid shaft, and a spring associated with-the plunger for imparte ingresilient operating pressure on the lever.

l 2. In a rail and wheel-flange lubricating apparatus, the combinationwith means for delivering lubricant to the rail comprising a pumpand-operating connections therefor including'a shaft; of

engaging the plunger, whereby movement of the \Y plunger in onedirection imparts a partial rotation to said shaft, and resilient meansinterposed between the wheel'engaging end of the plunger and the leverfor cushioning the initial operating force on the lever. I i 3. In arail and wheel flange'lubricating app'a ratus, the combination withmeans for delivering lubricant to the rail comprising a pump andoperating connections therefor including .a shaft; of. means. forimparting movement to said shaft comprising a casing mounted on the railat one side thereof, a vertically movable stud plunger supported in thecasing in close relation to the shaft with its upper end extendingthrough the top of the casing and into the path of travel of car wheelspassing along the rail, whereby the plunger is depressed by engagementwith said Wheels, lever means including a relatively short arm on saidshaft within said casing and engaging the plunger so that movement ofthe plunger in one direction imparts a partial rotation to said shaft,and a spring associated with the plunger for applying resilientoperating pressure on the shaft.

4. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus, the combinationwith means for delivering lubricant to the rail comprising a pump andoperating means therefor including a shaft; of means for impartingmovement to said shaft comprising a casing mounted on the rail at oneside thereof, a vertically movable stud plunger supported in the casingin close relation to the said shaft and with its upper end extendinginto the path of passing car wheels, there being a transverse recess inthe plunger, a lever means mounted on the shaft and including arelatively short arm extending into the said recess in the plunger foroperatively engaging the plunger at a location intermediate its ends,whereby movement of the plunger in one direction imparts a partialrotation to said shaft, and a spring associated with the plunger forapplying resilient operating pressure on the lever.

5. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus, the combinationwith means for delivering lubricant to the rail comprising a pump andoperating means therefor including a shaft, of means for impartingintermittent movements to the shaft in one direction comprising a closedcasing for one end of the shaft adapted to contain a quantity oflubricant, a plunger mounted to reciprocate vertically in the casing andhaving a transverse slot therein, a spring for holding the plungeryieldably in the path of passing car wheels, and means for connectingthe plunger with the shaft comprising a member loosely mounted on theshaft so as to oscillate thereon and having a portion in the form of agear tooth extending into the slot formed in the plunger, a ratchetwheel on the shaft, an actuating detent arm, pivotally supported on theoscillating member for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and aholding detent for preventing reverse movement of the ratchet wheel; theactuating detent and the gear tooth portion of the oscillating memberbeing arranged on opposite sides of the shaft, whereby the shaft isrotated by the force of the plunger spring during the upward movement ofthe plunger.

6. 'In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus including a pumpand operating means therefor comprising a shaft; wheel actuatedmechanism for operating the shaft comprising a reciprocating plungersupported on the rail, a spring for normally holding the plunger in thepath of travel of a car wheel, whereby the plunger is operated byengagement with said wheel, a ratchet wheel fixed on the shaft, a levermeans oscillatably supported on the shaft and connected to the plunger,an actuating detent pivotally supported on the lever means and havingteeth for engaging the ratchet, whereby movement of the plunger in onedirection imparts a partial rotation to the ratchet, a spring forholding the actuating detent in engagement with the ratchet, a pivotedholding detent having teeth engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel toprevent reverse movement, and means for adjusting one of said detentsrelative to the ratchet wheel, whereby the said actuating and holdingdetents will engage the vertical faces .of the ratchet wheel teeth whenthe movable parts of the actuating mechanism are at rest.

7. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus including a pump andoperating means therefor comprising a shaft; wheel actuated mechanismfor operating the shaft comprising a reciprocating plunger supported onthe rail, a spring for normally holding the plunger in the path of thecar wheels, whereby the plunger is operated by engagement with saidwheel, a ratchet wheel fixed on the shaft, a lever means oscillatablysupported on the shaft and connected to the plunger, an actuating detentarm pivotally supported on the lever means and having teeth for engagingthe ratchet, whereby movement of the plunger in one direction impartspartial rotation to the ratchet, a spring for holding the actuatingdetent in engagement with the ratchet, a pivoted detent arm having teethengaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel to prevent reverse movement, andan eccentric member providing a pivotal axis for one of said detentarms, whereby the position of the detent may be adjusted relative to theratchet wheel by rotation of the eccentric member.

8. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus including a pump andoperating means therefor comprising a shaft; wheel actuated mechanismfor operating the shaft comprising a reciprocating plunger supported onthe rail, a spring for normally holding the plunger in the path of thecar wheels, whereby the plunger is operated :by engagement with saidwheels, a ratchet wheel fixed on the shaft, a lever means oscillatablysupported on the shaft and connected to the plunger, an actuating detentpivotally supported on the lever means and having teeth for engaging theratchet, whereby movement of the plunger in one direction imparts apartial rotation to the ratchet, a spring for holding the actuatingdetent in engagement with the ratchet, a pivoted holding detent havingteeth for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheel to prevent reversemovement, the pivotal axis for one of said detents comprising a boltformed with an eccentric portion, whereby rotation of the bolt altersthe position of the detent arm relative to the other arm.

9. 'In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus including a pumpand operating means therefor comprising :a shaft; wheel actuatedmechanism for operating the shaft comprising a reciprocating plungersupported on the rail, a spring for normally holding the plunger in thepath of the car wheels, whereby the plunger is operated by engagementwith said wheels, a ratchet wheel fixed on the shaft, a lever meansoscillatably supported on the shaft and connected to the plunger, anactuating detent pivotally supported on the lever means and having teethfor engaging the ratchet, whereby movement of the plunger in onedirection imparts a partial rotation to the ratchet, a spring forholding the actuating detent in engagement with the ratchet, a pivotedholding detent having teeth for engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheelto prevent reverse movement; the pivotal axis for one of said detentscomprising an eccentric bushing revolubly positioned in an'opening inthe pivotal end of the detent, whereby rotation of the eccentricbushingrelative to the detent varies the.

effective length of the detent.

10. In a rail and wheel flange lubric'atingyapparatus, the combinationof means for delivering I lubricant to therail comprising a pump andoperating means thereforpincluding a shaft, of means for impartingmovement to said shaft comprising a casing mounted on the rail at oneside thereof, a. plunger supported in the casing to move in a planeinclined to the vertical center plane of the rail, there being atransverse recess in the plunger which is in normal alignment with theaxis of the pump operating shaft, and.

a lever means mounted on the shaft and extending into said recess in theplunger for operatively connecting the plunger with said shaft, wherebymovement of the plunger in one direction imparts. a partial rotation tosaid shaft.

11. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apeparatus, the combinationwith means for delivering lubricant to the rail comprising a pump andoperating means therefor including a shaft; of

means for imparting movement to said shaft comprising a casing mountedon the rail at one' side thereof, a plunger supported in the casing tomove in a plane inclined to the vertical with the upper end of theplunger extending into the path of travel of car wheels passing alonging lubricant to a rail comprising a pump and operating connectionstherefor including a shaft; of" means for imparting movement tosaidshaft comprising a stud plunger positioned in close relation to saidshaft at a location adjacent the outer side face of a rail head forengagement with the tread portions of passing car-wheels, means foradjustably supporting the plunger on the rail so as to accommodate railsof difierent heights, lever means on said shaft including a relativelyshort arm for engaging theplunger, whereby movement of the plunger inone direction imparts a partial rotation to said shaft, and

means associated with the plunger for applying resilient operatingpressure on the lever.

13. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus including a pumpand operating mechanism therefor comprising a shaft; wheel actuatedmechanism for operating the shaft comprising a lever fixed onthe shaftand a ver-,-

i tically operating plunger engaging the'outer end of the lever andpositioned to be depressed by a passing car wheel, whereby the downwardmovement of the lever imparts apartial. rotation to the shaft; the saidplunger comprising an outer member, an inner member which bears on thelever and has a transverse opening therethrough, a connecting pinextending loosely through said opening and engaging the outer member forcon-- necting the outer and inner members together with capacity forrelative movement, and a compression spring interposed betweentheinner'andouter members to provide a shock absorbing cushion.

14. In a railand wheel flangelubrlcating ap paratus including a pump andoperating mechanism thereforcomprising a shaft; wheel actuatedmechanismfor operating the shaft comprising I a lever fixed on the shaftandhavinga rounded upwardly projecting end, and a vertically operatingplunger engaging the said rounded end of the lever and positioned to bedepressed by a passing car wheel whereby the downward movement of thelever imparts apartial rotation to said shaft; the said plungercomprising outer and inner members having telescopic relation, aconnecting pin extending loosely' through a transverse opening in theinner member to hold said inner and outer members in their assembledrelation 'with capacity for relative movement, a compression springinterposed between the outer and inner members to provide a cushion toresist inward endwise movement of said members, andstop means positionedto limit upward movement of the plunger structure.

- 15. In a rail and wheel flange lubricating apparatus including a pumpand operating mechanism therefor, comprising a shaft; wheel actuatedmechanism for operatingthe shaft com-.

prising a leverfixed on the shaft and a vertically operating plungerengaging the outer end of the lever and positioned to be depressed bypassing car wheels, whereby the downward movement of the lever imparts apartial rotation to the shaft; the said plunger comprising outer andinner hollow members having telescopic relation with eachother,'aconnecting pin carried by said outer member and extending looselythrough a transverse opening in the inner memberto hold said members intheir assembled relation with capacity for relative movement, acompression spring seatedin the hollow portions of said members toprovide a cushion to resist relative 'inwardi movement of the members,and stop means for limiting the inward endwise movement 1 of said hollowmembers comprising a shoulder formed on the inner wall of the outermember adapted to engage the upper end of the said inner member'when thespring is under maximum compression. I

SIDNEY E. BATES. THOMAS E. RODMAN. ECMMO'NS OVERMER.

